Device for cleaning sealer finishing spatula

ABSTRACT

A device for cleaning a sealer finishing spatula is provided for removing sealer dirt adhered to the sealer finishing spatula efficiently in a short time. In the sealer cleaning device, a cleaning member has a finish surface cleaning portion brought into contact with the finishing surface of a finishing spatula, and side face cleaning portions brought into contact with the both side faces contiguous to the finishing surface of the spatula, respectively. The side face cleaning portions are provided at the both ends of the finish surface cleaning portion such that the both side faces of the spatula are brought into contact with each other when the finishing surface of the spatula is brought into contact with the finish surface cleaning portion.

This is a 371 national phase application of PCT/JP2008/063840 filed 1 Aug. 2008, claiming priority to Japanese Patent Application No. JP 2007-206427 filed 8, Aug. 2007, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a cleaning device for removing sealer (sealer dirt) adhered to a spatula used for finishing the sealer (sealant) coated on connecting portions of members such as a hood and a door of an automobile, for example.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Heretofore, sealer is coated on connecting portions of members such as a hood and a door of an automobile. The sealer is coated on the connecting portions of members to be sealed such as a hood and a door in a manner that a sealer coating device (nozzle) is moved closer to the connecting portions of the members to be sealed and the sealer coating device is then moved along the connecting portions to apply the sealer on the connecting portions. After the sealer coating operation by the sealer coating device is finished, sealer finishing for the coated sealer is made by use of a finishing spatula. Subsequent to this sealer finishing operation, the sealer is solidified for ensuring waterproof performance, rust-preventing performance and other performances of the connecting portions of the sealed members.

After the sealer finishing operation, the residual sealer (sealer dirt) remains stuck to the finishing spatula. If the spatula in such a state continues to be used, subsequent sealer finishing operations can not be precisely done. Therefore, the sealer dirt adhered to the spatula has to be removed after the sealer finishing operation. For removing the sealer dirt from the spatula, one general method is to scrape off the dirt from a spatula's surface soiled with dirt by user of an edge of a straight plate. Further, there has also been proposed another device for simultaneously removing the dirt adhered to two side surfaces (front and rear side surfaces) of a spatula by bringing scraping members into contact with the two side surfaces (Patent Literature 1).

However, in the above mentioned techniques, though the sealer dirt is removed from a surface to which the plate or the scraping member is contacted when cleaning the spatula, the sealer dirt adhered to other surfaces can not be removed. Furthermore, the sealer dirt removed from the surface in contact with the plate or the scraping member has a possibility to flow and adhere to other surfaces again during the spatula cleaning.

For the above reasons, the sealer dirt has to be scraped several times for cleaning the spatula, but it could disadvantageously require a longer cleaning time.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

-   Patent Literature 1: JP3112813U

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems and has a purpose to provide a device for cleaning sealer finishing spatula capable of efficiently removing sealer dirt adhered to the finishing spatula in a short time.

There is provided a device for cleaning a sealer finishing spatula according to the invention to solve the above problems, the cleaning device for removing sealer dirt adhered to the sealer finishing spatula, including a finish surface cleaning portion to be brought into contact with a finishing surface of the spatula and side surface cleaning portions to be brought into contact with both side surfaces contiguous to the finishing surface of the spatula, wherein each side surface cleaning portion made of an elastic material is formed longer than a thickness of the spatula on both ends of the finish surface cleaning portion to make contact with both side surfaces of the spatula when the spatula is brought into contact with the finish surface cleaning portion, an arranging distance between each side surface cleaning portion is slightly narrower than a width of the spatula, and the side surface cleaning portion includes an edge portion that will make line contact with the side surface of the spatula and a clearance surface that will make no contact with the side surface of the spatula while the finish surface cleaning portion has no clearance surface.

In this device for cleaning the sealer finishing spatula, the finishing surface of the spatula is brought into contact with the finish surface cleaning portion to scrape off and remove the sealer dirt adhered to the finishing surface. Further, the both side surfaces contiguous to the finishing surface of the spatula are brought into contact with each side surface cleaning portion so that the sealer dirt adhered to each side surface is scraped off and removed. Each side surface cleaning portion is formed on both ends of the finish surface cleaning portion so that the both side surfaces of the spatula come into contact with the side surface cleaning portions when the spatula is brought into contact with the finish surface cleaning portion. Specifically, for cleaning the spatula, the both side surfaces of the spatula come into contact with the side surface cleaning portions while the finishing surface of the spatula is brought into contact with the finish surface cleaning portion. Thereby, the sealer dirt adhered to the finishing surface and the both side surfaces of the spatula can be simultaneously scraped off and removed in one cleaning operation. Moreover, it is also possible to prevent the sealer dirt from flowing around other surfaces. Therefore, according to this device for cleaning the sealer finishing spatula, the sealer dirt adhered to the spatula can be efficiently removed in a short time.

The side surface cleaning portions are made of a material having hardness lower than that of the spatula and an arranging distance between each side surface cleaning portion is designed slightly narrower than a width of the spatula. Thereby, the side surface cleaning portions (edge portions) are enabled to bite into the both side surfaces of the spatula during the cleaning operation. Accordingly, the removing performance to remove the sealer dirt adhered to the both side surfaces of the spatula can be enhanced. Furthermore, it is surely possible to prevent the sealer dirt from flowing around other surfaces from the both side surfaces of the spatula. Since an end of the edge portion bites into the side surfaces of the spatula, the resistance (frictional force) caused when the spatula and the cleaning device are relatively moved is rarely influenced (enlarged).

Furthermore, in this device for cleaning the sealer finishing spatula, the side surface cleaning portions are formed with the edge portion that will make line contact with the side surface of the spatula and the clearance surface that will make no contact with the side surface of the spatula, respectively, while the finish surface cleaning portion has no clearance surface.

Therefore, the both side surfaces of the spatula can surely make line contact with the side surface cleaning portions. Moreover, this line contact relation between the both side surfaces of the spatula and the side surface cleaning portions enables the resistance (frictional force) to be reduced when the spatula and the cleaning device are moved relative to each other for scraping off the sealer dirt. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent defects caused by increased resistance (frictional force) such as damages and residual dirt of the cleaning device and the spatula.

If the finishing surface of the spatula is scratched when scraping off the sealer dirt, the next sealer finishing operation can not be precisely made. Therefore, it is required for the cleaning device not to scratch the finishing surface during a cleaning operation.

Therefore, in the device for cleaning the sealer finishing spatula according to the invention, preferably, the finish surface cleaning portion is made of a material having hardness lower than that of the spatula and having elasticity.

This disallows the finishing surface of the spatula to be scratched even if the finishing surface of the spatula is firmly pressed against the finish surface cleaning portion when removing the sealer dirt. The spatula can be placed on the finish surface cleaning portion with a firm pressing force, so that the sealer dirt adhered to the finishing surface of the spatula can be surely removed. Hence, the removing performance to remove the sealer dirt from the finish surface of the spatula can be enhanced without leaving scratches on the finishing surface of the spatula.

In the device for cleaning the sealer finishing spatula according to the invention, preferably, the side surface cleaning portion is made of material having hardness lower than that of the spatula.

In the device for cleaning the sealer cleaning spatula according to the invention, preferably, the finish surface cleaning portion and the side surface cleaning portions are integrally molded in one piece.

By integrally molding the finish surface cleaning portion and the side surface cleaning portions in one piece, a dimensional precision of the cleaning device is improved, so that the removing performance to remove the sealer dirt adhered to the spatula can be enhanced, as well as achieving cost reduction of a cleaning device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a sealer cleaning device in an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a sealer finishing spatula;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a cleaning member;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a dimensional relation between the cleaning member and the sealer finishing spatula;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the cleaning member and the finishing spatula during a cleaning operation;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken along a line A-A in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a modification of the sealer cleaning device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A detailed description of a preferred embodiment embodying a device for cleaning a sealer finishing spatula according to the present invention will now be given referring to the accompanying drawings. A sealer cleaning device of one embodiment is now explained referring to FIGS. 1 to 4. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of the sealer cleaning device of this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a sealer finishing spatula. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a cleaning member. FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a dimensional relation between the cleaning member and the sealer finishing spatula.

As shown in FIG. 1, a sealer cleaning device 10 of this embodiment includes a cleaning member 11 and a collection box 12. The cleaning member 11 is fixed to the collection box 12. With this configuration, sealer dirt adhered to a sealer finishing spatula 14 (see FIG. 2) is removed and the removed sealer dirt is collected.

The finishing spatula 14 is, as shown in FIG. 2, a resin plate having a predetermined thickness (1 to 2 cm) designed to be tapered toward a distal end. This tapered surface is a finishing surface 14 a for sealer finishing and the distal end of the finishing surface 14 a is flexible. Further, both side surfaces 14 b are formed contiguous to the finishing surface 14 a. In a base portion of the spatula 14, a holding portion 15 is formed for grasping the spatula. By grasping this holding portion 15 and pressing the finishing surface 14 a against sealer coated on connecting portions of components to be sealed, a sealer finishing operation is conducted by use of the spatula 14.

The cleaning member 11 for cleaning the sealer dirt adhered to the finishing spatula 14 is, as shown in FIG. 3, a resin-made plate having a predetermined thickness (1 to 2 cm) and has a recess 20 shaped to fit the finishing spatula 14. The cleaning member 11 is integrally molded in one piece of a material (resin) having a hardness lower than that of a material (resin) of the finishing spatula 14. The thus integrally molded cleaning member 11 can achieve improved dimensional precision, so that the cleaning member 11 is able to have good contactability with the finishing spatula 14, enhancing the removing performance to remove the sealer dirt adhered to the spatula 14. Furthermore, the sealer cleaning device 10 can achieve cost reduction.

A finish surface cleaning portion 21 is formed at the base of the recess 20 of the cleaning member 11. The finish surface cleaning portion 21 is to be brought into contact with the finishing surface 14 a of the spatula 14 to remove the sealer dirt. Side surface cleaning portions 22 are formed in both side surfaces of the recess 20. In other words, the side surface cleaning portions 22 are formed on both ends of the finish surface cleaning portion 21. Each side surface cleaning portion 22 is to be brought into contact with each side surface 14 b of the spatula 14 to remove the sealer dirt. Further, each side surface cleaning portion 22 is arranged to come into contact with the side surfaces 14 b when the finishing surface 14 a of the spatula 14 is brought into contact with the finish surface cleaning portion 21. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 4, when the spatula 14 is put on the recess 20 of the cleaning member 11, the both side surfaces 14 b of the spatula 14 come into contact with the side surface cleaning portions 22 while the finishing surface 14 a of the spatula 14 makes into contact with the finish surface cleaning portion 21.

As shown in FIG. 3, each side surface cleaning portion 22 is formed with an edge portion 22 a which makes line contact with the side surface 14 b of the finishing spatula 14 and a clearance surface 22 b formed so as not to make contact with the side surface 14 b. In this manner, the both side surfaces 14 b of the spatula 14 can surely make line contact with the side surface cleaning portions 22. Furthermore, resistance (frictional force) caused when the spatula 14 and the cleaning member 11 are relatively moved can be reduced.

A distance between the edge portions 22 a provided in the side surface cleaning portions 22 is designed slightly narrower than a width dimension of the finishing spatula 14. Thereby, when the spatula 14 is put on the recess 20 of the cleaning member 11, the edge portions 22 a are elastically deformed to bite into the both side surfaces 14 b of the spatula 14. In addition, since only ends of the edge portions 22 a bite into the both side surfaces 14 b of the spatula 14, the resistance (frictional force) caused when the spatula 14 and the cleaning member 11 are relatively moved is rarely influenced (enlarged).

As shown in FIG. 1, the collection box 12 in which the cleaning member 11 is mounted is of almost rectangular parallelepiped shape having an open upper face. The collection box 12 is used for collecting and storing the sealer dirt removed by the cleaning member 11 from the finishing spatula 14. The collection box 12 is formed with a handle 13 for facilitating the device's portability. Furthermore, the cleaning member 11 is set and fixed to an inner peripheral surface of the collection box 12 in a manner that the recess 20 protrudes from an upper end of the box 12.

An operation of the sealer cleaning device as configured above is explained referring to FIGS. 4 to 6. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the cleaning member and the finishing spatula during a cleaning operation. FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken along a line A-A in FIG. 5.

First, the finishing spatula 14 having the finishing surface 14 a facing downward is set in the recess 20 of the cleaning member 11 from above. At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, the spatula 14 is obliquely arranged relative to the recess 20 to bring a boundary between the finishing surface 14 a and the holding portion 15 into contact with the edge portion 21 a of the finish surface cleaning portion 21.

Subsequently, the finishing spatula 14 is moved obliquely upward while being pressed against the edge portion 21 a of the finish surface cleaning portion 21. The spatula 14 is thus moved in a state that the finishing surface 14 a of the spatula 14 is kept in line contact with the edge portion 21 a of the finish surface cleaning portion 21 as shown in FIG. 6 and the both side surfaces 14 b of the spatula 14 are kept in line contact with the edge portions 22 a of the side surface cleaning portions 22 respectively as shown in FIG. 5. By the movement of the spatula 14, sealer dirt 16 adhered to the finishing surface 14 a is scraped off and removed by the finish surface cleaning portion 21 (the edge portion 21 a). Further, the sealer dirt 16 adhered to the side surfaces 14 b of the spatula 14 is scraped off and removed by the side surface cleaning portions 22 (the edge portions 22 a). In other words, as shown in FIG. 5, the finishing surface 14 a and the both side surfaces 14 b of the spatula 14 can be simultaneously cleaned. Therefore, cleaning of the finishing spatula 14 can be made in a short time.

Since the cleaning member 11 is made of a material having hardness lower than that of the finishing spatula 14, the finishing surface 14 a of the spatula 14 does not suffer from scratches even if the finishing surface 14 a of the spatula 14 is firmly pressed against the finish surface cleaning portion 21. Thus, in the sealer cleaning device 10, the spatula 14 can be firmly pressed against the finish surface cleaning portion 21, so that the sealer dirt adhered to the finishing surface 14 a of the spatula 14 can be surely removed in a single removing operation (movement of the spatula 14). Specifically, the removing performance to remove the sealer dirt adhered to the finishing surface 14 a of the spatula 14 can be enhanced without scratching the finishing surface 14 a of the spatula 14. This enables efficient cleaning of the finishing spatula 14.

Moreover, the spatula 14 is moved while distal ends of the edge portions 22 a slightly bite into the both side surfaces 14 b of the finishing spatula 14. Accordingly, during movement of the spatula 14, the edge portions 22 a are continuously in contact with the both side surfaces 14 b of the spatula 14. This can enhance the removing performance to remove the sealer dirt adhered to the both side surfaces 14 b of the spatula 14. It is also possible to surely prevent that the sealer dirt removed from the finishing surface 14 a of the spatula 14 flows around to the both side surfaces 14 b. Moreover, the sealer dirt removed from the both side surfaces 14 b is surely prevented from flowing around to other surfaces from the both side surfaces 14 b.

The clearance surfaces 22 b are formed in the side surface cleaning portions 22 so that the resistance (frictional force) caused when the spatula 14 is moved can be reduced. Accordingly, the cleaning member 11 and the finishing spatula 14 are unlikely to suffer from defects caused by increased resistance (frictional force) such as damages and residual dirt.

A modified embodiment is now explained referring to FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a modification of the sealer cleaning device. This modification embodies a sealer cleaning device configured such that a finishing spatula is fixed and a cleaning member is movable instead. As shown in FIG. 7, a sealer cleaning device 10 a includes a single shaft NC unit 31, a collection box 12, and a spatula fixing jig 32 which are placed on a base 30. The collection box 12 is formed with a cleaning member 11 as similar to the above embodiment. This collection box 12 is moved by the single shaft NC unit 31.

The spatula fixing jig 32 fixes a finishing spatula 14 in position so that the spatula 14 is fitted in the recess 20 of the cleaning member 11 when the collection box 12 (the cleaning member 11) is moved. To be more concrete, the spatula 14 is obliquely held relative to the base 30 to bring a finishing surface 14 a of the spatula 14 into contact with an edge portion 21 a of a finish surface cleaning portion 21 and bring both side surfaces 14 b of the spatula 14 into contact with edge portions 22 a of side surface cleaning portions 22 when the collection box 12 (the cleaning member 11) is moved.

In this sealer cleaning device 10 a, the collection box 12 is moved to the rear side (right side in FIG. 7) than a fixing position of the finishing spatula 14 and then the spatula 14 is mounted on the spatula fixing jig 32 with the finishing surface 14 a facing downward. Then, the single shaft NC unit 31 is operated to move the collection box 12 toward the spatula 14 (to a left side in FIG. 7) on the base 30. The cleaning member 11 is moved by this movement of the collection box 12 while the edge portion 22 a of the finish surface cleaning portion 21 is in line contact with the finishing surface 14 a of the spatula 14 and the edge portions 22 a of the side surface cleaning portions 22 are in line contact with the both side surfaces 14 b of the spatula 14. As a result, both the finishing surface 14 a and the side surfaces 14 b of the spatula 14 can be simultaneously cleaned and therefore cleaning of the spatula 14 can be efficiently made in a short time. In addition, the sealer cleaning device 10 a also achieves other advantages obtained in the above mentioned embodiment.

As explained above, according to the sealer cleaning devices 10 and 10 a, the finishing spatula 14 is fitted in the recess 20 of the cleaning member 11 shaped corresponding to the shape of the spatula 14 so that the cleaning member 11 and the spatula 14 are relatively moved while the finishing surface 14 a of the spatula 14 is in line contact with the edge portion 21 a of the finish surface cleaning portion 21 and the both side surfaces 14 b of the spatula 14 are in line contact with the edge portions 22 a of the side surface cleaning portions 22. Thereby, the sealer dirt adhered to both the finishing surface 14 a and the side surfaces 14 b of the spatula 14 can be simultaneously scraped off and removed in a single cleaning operation. Furthermore, the sealer dirt is prevented from flowing around other surfaces of the spatula 14. Consequently, the sealer dirt adhered to the finishing spatula 14 can be efficiently removed in a short time.

Moreover, the edge portions 22 a and the clearance surfaces 22 b are formed in the side surface cleaning portions 22 of the cleaning member 11, thereby reducing the resistance (frictional force) caused when the cleaning member 11 and the finishing spatula 14 are relatively moved. Hence, defects caused by the increased resistance (frictional force) such as damages and residual dirt of the cleaning member 11 and the spatula 14 can be prevented.

While the presently preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that this disclosure is for the purpose of illustration and that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment. Various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, in the above embodiments, a single cleaning member 11 is provided in a collection box 12. Alternatively, a plurality of cleaning members 11 may be provided in the collection box 12 for cleaning several types of spatulas (each spatula has a different width dimension) used for sealer finishing. Thereby, a cleaning operation of several types of spatulas can be embodied in one sealer cleaning device.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

According to a device for cleaning a sealer finishing spatula of the present invention, as mentioned above, sealer dirt adhered to a sealer finishing spatula can be efficiently removed in a short time. 

1. A device for cleaning a sealer finishing spatula to remove sealer dirt adhered to the sealer finishing spatula, including: a finish surface cleaning portion to be brought into contact with a finishing surface of the spatula; and side surface cleaning portions to be brought into contact with both side surfaces contiguous to the finishing surface of the spatula, wherein each side surface cleaning portion made of an elastic material is formed longer than a thickness of the spatula on both ends of the finish surface cleaning portion to make contact with both side surfaces of the spatula when the spatula is brought into contact with the finish surface cleaning portion, an arranging distance between each side surface cleaning portion is slightly narrower than a width of the spatula, and the side surface cleaning portion includes an edge portion that will make line contact with the side surface of the spatula and a clearance surface that will make no contact with the side surface of the spatula while the finish surface cleaning portion has no clearance surface.
 2. The device for cleaning the sealer finishing spatula according to claim 1, wherein the finish surface cleaning portion is made of a material having hardness lower than that of the spatula and having elasticity.
 3. The device for cleaning the sealer finishing spatula according to claim 2, wherein the side surface cleaning portion is made of a material having hardness lower than that of the spatula.
 4. The device for cleaning the sealer finishing spatula according to claim 1, wherein the finish surface cleaning portion and the side surface cleaning portions are integrally molded in one piece.
 5. (canceled) 